The Final Word Cricket Podcast

Season 14, Episode 29: He is just about everybody's favourite, and it's obvious why. Stephen Fry has been a comedy and literary hero for Geoff and Adam, starting with his work on Blackadder and with Hugh Laurie, and building through the decades. He also adores cricket, even though from childhood he hated all other sport. So all these years later he ended up spending a year as president of the Marylebone Cricket Club - both part of and subject to a time of great change. We sit down with Stephen to talk about change, creativity, collaboration, and the difficulties of fighting any sort of system. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 28: There are World Cups coming out our ears, with details of the schedule for the men's T20 version next year starting emerge even while the BCCI is still changing the 50-over schedule that is due to start in two months. "Relax!" they're saying. "Go with the flow!" We also check in with our USA correspondent Cam Ponsonby about Major League Cricket and the mysterious New York stadium - is it too much to hope that it's in Flushing, Queens? The Bangladesh women's team eyes off Test cricket, Australia's women tour Ireland, and the County Championship rolls on. Your Nerd Pledge number for this week: 4.31 - Michael Fallon Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, just in general: We knew it would be big. It always is. We didn't know that four of the five matches would be in balance into their final hour. So much conversation, irritation, celebration over the course of six weeks. Time to look back over it all. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 5: IT IS OVER. We started the day with a chaseable target remaining for Australia. We stopped in the middle for a long time for rain. But either side of that, the series built to the kind of climax that it deserved. Steve Smith was there. So was Moeen Ali. Ben Stokes was involved. As was Travis Head. Chris Woakes did his thing. Todd Murphy was terrific. And at the end, of course, there he was: Stuart Broad. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 4: It was all about Stuart Broad as the fourth day started at The Oval, but not so much when the bowling began. Australia were supposed to be cooked, but not yet. Usman Khawaja and David Warner put on their best stand of the series before rain once again intervened. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 4: While we were recording the Day 3 Daily show, Stuart Broad decided to retire. Not a helpful piece of timing for podcasters, but very good timing for Broad, who explained his decision as eloquently as ever and has a strong rationale. One of the great Ashes competitors, amongst a far broader career that deserves to be recognised as well, we thought that Stuart Broad was worth an episode of his own. Thanks for all the fun over the journey. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 3: Halfway through the last Test of the series and Bazball was still blazing. Pat Cummins battled, Todd Murphy performed beyond his years, but this was England's day, with Crawley and Duckett starting off the top before Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow had their say. We have one, perhaps two, bumper days to come. And yes, Stuart Broad announced his retirement while we were recording this, so we didn't know. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. Fine, it hasn't exactly been weekly in the middle of the Ashes, but we didn't manage to put together this episode. Featuring an innings that left everybody speechless, a detour back to some very early Ashes stories, prodigious feats on a first visit to foreign soil, and another regular six-hitter tallies up. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 19.04 - Matthew Chapple 14.90 - Brett Birkenstock 2.43 - David Honeyball 10.00 - Nigel Browne Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 2: One team pushes ahead, the other pulls them back. So it has been all through this Ashes series. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne had the go-slow. Stuart Broad got things moving. Steve Smith, was he run out or not? The umpires say no. Todd Murphy smokes some shots off Mark Wood. Pat Cummins is back in the runs. And by the end of day four we have a shootout. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Sign up to learn about all the Lord's Taverners projects at bit.ly/tavssignup Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 1: A ridiculous fast-forward day of Test cricket, is it? Of course, as usual in this series. Pat Cummins made a big call and bowled a huge spell, Harry Brook smoked some shots, Moeen Ali had a strange old time, Mitchell Starc was unbelievable, and Todd Murphy got involved. The final Ashes Test of 2023 is well underway. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 5th Test at The Oval, Day 0: And so it comes to this. And so we face the final curtain. The Test season ends where it began, fittingly at The Oval. Time is a flat circle. The sun is out. The Australians are in the nets. Geoff and Adam are watching on. What is to come? The Final Word Live show in London is today! July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Find out what you can do for summer at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More extra, less ordinary! https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/london/summer-2023 https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/summer-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 27: Someone from the creative world tweeting up a storm during the cricket gets our attention. So it has been over the Ashes with Patrick Brammall, one of Australia's most recognisable and talented actors. His show Colin From Accounts, which he writes and stars in with his wife Harriet Dyer, has enjoyed success at home and in the UK as one of the most-watched comedies of 2023. He's been nominated for two silver Logies. With that event and the final Ashes Test in the same week, there was no better time to speak with him from Los Angeles. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 26: Crazy scenes, not just because Indian women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur smashed her stumps over in a rage, but because she and other teammates persisted in effectively calling the umpires cheats after the match. All because India tied a series with Bangladesh. Also this week, Ian Botham makes an arse of himself, we look at Nat Sciver-Brunt's hot streak against Australia, Pakistan roll over Sri Lanka, there's a very funny county round, and England Test century-maker Alice Davidson-Richards joins the show to speak about her family's experience with Alzheimer's. Your Nerd Pledge number for this week: 1.35 - Jeremy Nash The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 6: Plenty going on after the Manchester washout, with emotions running high between two sets of supporters and between everybody else involved. It been another hectic series. We look over all of that, and what might be to come with one more engagement at The Oval. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 5: Curses. Oaths and castigations. For those hoping for a grandstand finish, you hoped in vain. The elements were victorious, as they will be when we are all gone. The destination of the trophy is determined. So what does that mean for the series? What is to come at The Oval for the deciding Test? Where to from here? The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

West Indies v India, Port of Spain Day 3: With rain at Old Trafford, why not switch to Port of Spain where rain was less of a feature? Virat Kohli made Test century 29, while the old firm combined: Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin. Kraigg Braithwaite and Alick Athanaze battled away for West Indies. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 4: We were supposed to have a washout, and it looked that way. But after a lot of rain, the ground staff went to work and prised out 30 overs of play. Enough for a Test century against the grain, some fierce fast stuff, a spin-bowling anomaly, and a fashion statement from one of our most discussed umpires. This Test is still alive. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 3: It went big, it went big, and it went bigger. Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, sure. Then it was the Jonny Bairstow Entertainment Hour, with Alex Carey front and centre. Pat Cummins had a moment, Josh Hazlewood dug deep, and then it was time for Mark Wood to once again crank up the speedo and let fly. A third action-filled day in Manchester - now let's see what the weather gods have in store. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 2: It doesn't get more dominant than that. We were promised an England team that would try all-out attack against the Australian bowlers to get on top of a game. By the fourth Test, it unequivocally happened. Zak Crawley had one of the biggest Ashes days out, Joe Root rode shotgun, and Pat Cummins' team was left picking up the pieces after just two days of this match. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 1: A helter skelter game is promised, with rain on the weekend and England especially needing to make sure this does not end in a draw, so they went full tilt into Day 1, while Day 1 tilted one way and then the other. More Marsh Magic, Travis Head lays in, Stuart Broad takes his 600th wicket, Chris Woakes does the business once again. A brilliant day of Test cricket, back and forth. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 3rd ODI at Southampton, Day 11: It's all over! Seven matches, 11 days, and more tightly fought moments than we can even remember, England were not going away despite conceding the trophy and Australia had to get ready to brawl. It was a day when Natalie Sciver-Brunt achieved the unbelievable to cap off a historic personal streak, when Ellyse Perry had to shoulder the load again, and when maybe justice was done. Finish off the best Women's Ashes series that we've seen, with guest hosts Melissa Story and Phil Long. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Day 0: The Ashes are sitting at 2-1 with two to play. Everything riding on the next week in Manchester. We already know England's team, and there's been a lot of discussion about how Australia's should be formed. One person who knows more than most is Bharat Sundaresan, the Net Whisperer, as usual spending his days at training. Let's look ahead to the next five days. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 25: The Manchester Test is looming this week, with selection questions ahoy - none more substantial than whether David Warner will open the batting for Australia. There are several configurations that could come into effect if he doesn't. Meanwhile, England go early on their XI again and we get that one right. The Women's Ashes trophy is no longer in the balance but the series is. Also this week, India in the Caribbean, Pakistan at the new home of Test cricket in Galle, T20 Finals Day, some news from the big ICC meeting, Big Bash developments, and a strange round of the County Championship. Your Nerd Pledge revisits for this week: 4.65 - Tobi Wilson 7.43 - Shannon Blackmore The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 2nd ODI at Southampton, Day 10: There is no such thing as a normal match in this series. Again, it goes right down to the final ball. Again, it turns, turns, turns again. Again, there are standout performances: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Ecclestone, Alana King, Ellyse Perry. Find out how it all unfolded. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 24: You'd better believe it. One of the legends of the women's game, someone we talk about on Story Time every other week. She made a century on debut in both formats, took 10 wickets and made a hundred in the same Test, and was the key player in winning the first World Cup in 1973. All of this with no money, little help, a job to attend and a family to support. She is spectacular, and Enid Bakewell made time to join The Final Word. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

West Indies v India, Dominica Day 2: We won't get to see much of this Test match, but with a couple of slower days this week we did have time to check out another five-wicket bag for Ashwin and a century on debut for Yashasvi Jaiswal. Why not record a show? The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Story Time, our weekly walk through cricket history via your listener quiz challenges. This week, after a bit too much Ashes madness to record the show as normal, we've managed to sneak one in. Title thanks to Winnie, and we'll find out about someone else who hit a lot of big ones, maybe more than anybody. We've got a masterpiece of placement, and we have an Englishman, an Irishman, and a South African walking into a bar. Your Nerd Pledge numbers this week: 3.43 - Real Victor Trumper 3.23 - Hugh Kenny-Herbert 3.60 - Gary Murphy 2.25 - Jonathan Brand 2.48 - Stu G Get tickets to our London live show with Steven Finn on July 26! And get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 1st ODI at Bristol, Day 9: Another absolute thriller, right to the end. And, three in a row for England! A week ago they needed five in a row. Well, here they are, still in contention, and taking it up to the mighty Australians, who are still not their best selves. Something remarkable is happening, although Beth Mooney was her usual self with the bat, and Ash Gardner the same alongside Jess Jonassen and Georgia Wareham in the spin division. It all came down to Heather Knight and Kate Cross... Melissa Story joins Geoff with the tale. The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 23: Finally, a normal weekly show. Plenty going on, with both men's Ashes teams getting clobbered for slow over rates, deservedly, and the women's Ashes teams gearing up for the three ODIs that will decide the destination of the trophy. Also this week, India get ready for some Caribbean Test cricket, Dominica is back on the schedule after its awful hurricane, the Bangladesh Prime Minister gets herself involved in a Tamim Iqbal story, the Dutch reach the ODI World Cup, and we talk to Cam Ponsonby from Houston ahead of Major League Cricket. Your Nerd Pledge number for this week: 2.24 - David Whiteley The Final Word Live show in London is on July 26. Tickets here. Or get 50% off if you join Patreon first. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 5: No play on what would have been the last day, but plenty to think about. Three Tests, three close finishes, and a series that has been all twists and turns with barely a quiet hour. Who has come out of it well, who has struggled, what are some of the moves that might come next? We have it all on The Final Word. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 4: Who doesn't love a last-day run chase? It was Day 4 at Headingley, it was a Sunday, and it wasn't quite 2019, but it wasn't a million miles away. Plenty of angst, tension, twists and turns from the final day of this third Ashes Test, with salutations to Harry Brook and Mitchell Starc. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 3rd T20 at Lord's, Day 8: The series is STILL alive! The mighty Australians have lost a T20 series for the first time in six years, England take them down for the second match running, in front of yet another record crowd, this time at Lord's. A triumph in general, and a triumph for the home team - now they need to keep on winning in the ODI series to follow. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 3: Rain, delays, leaden skies, then finally coming out to bat, it was all in favour of England. It was all going the way of Woakes, Broad, Wood. And then Travis Head happened, again. Just another chapter in this endlessly wild Ashes series. Perfectly set up for a finish on Day 4. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 2: It was all set up with a Yorkshire pair coming to the middle in Yorkshire, but Pat Cummins had other ideas. Then Mark Wood had other ideas to that. Then Ben Stokes had the same idea as Ben Stokes usually has. Has there been a normal day of cricket in this series? No! The hits just keep on coming, as do the Steve Smith bright ideas. Until he started batting. Another truly bonkers day, get into it. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 1: Here we are in Leeds. A fast track, plenty of pace and bounce, and a fast bowler to make use of it with Mark Wood coming back. But, wait, a minute, what's that? Is that... is that Mitchell Marsh's music? What an opening day of the third Test! Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 2nd T20 at The Oval, Day 7: The series is alive! England needed to win five in a row to have a shot at taking the trophy off Australia... and they have their first. A record-breaking night at The Oval: crowd, runs, and the bloody length of that Georgia Wareham six. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 3rd Test at Headingley, Day 0: Just three days since Lord's and we'll be back in action at Leeds, in one of the more febrile Ashes environments imaginable. The day before play, Bharat Sundaresan has already been having some run-ins with the local Yorkshire police, and Adam is at Headingley with him while Geoff heads to the Women's Ashes game in London. England have made a stack of changes, Australia will make one and perhaps two - but is there a bigger surprise in the works? Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 22: A day after the wildness at Lord's, we look back and try to take its measure. Meanwhile, in the world beyond the ground, the story has only got bigger. Adam and Geoff try to puzzle out the conflict. Then we speak to Wisden's Yas Rana about English cricket's ICEC report into discrimination, and the recommendations to change it. Plus the World Cup qualifiers and - at last - a World Cup schedule. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 5: What the absolute fridge. That was Headingley Mach II for a while, with Ben Stokes reaching heights that seemingly only he can find. It was a grudge match, too, with Lord's ridden with angst. And it was a fast bowling vindication in the end, as the bouncer war was finally won. Angry fans, discontent, invocations of the Spirit of Cricket, and some very ugly scenes in the Long Room - this end to the Test was extraordinary, unedifying, and all kinds of other things besides. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Women's Ashes, 1st T20 at Edgbaston, Day 6: A stunning day for women's cricket, with nearly 20,000 filling Edbgaston for the start of the T20 series. Daniel Norcross and Henry Moeran were there with Geoff and Adam sidelined by the scheduling clash with the Lord's Test. A Sophia Dunkley milestone, an Amy Jones hometown moment, and another ice-cold Beth Mooney masterclass would follow. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 4: The days don't get any quieter. Bouncer wars. Bizarro Steve Smith stuff. Nathan Lyon batting on one leg. A late burst from Mitchell Starc, a late burst from Pat Cummins. Another controversial catch, or non catch. The chance of a big chase, still alive overnight, with Ben Stokes still there. We had it all. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 3: If life is all about about learning things and getting better, then England missed that directive. More madness on the third day at Lord's, before the Australians responded with sanity, though this came amidst a bowling contest that was as gripping as they come. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 2: What on earth was that? Another manic day of Test match cricket as England were set a challenge and went after it in wild style. Nobody knew what they were seeing, but most of them had some fun. Plus a bunch of Steve Smith records, and an injury that could shape the series. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ashes, 2nd Test at Lord's, Day 1: After a lot of talk, it's time for the second Test. England won the toss and bowled under cloudy skies, but things went every which way from there: some David Warner, a lot of Steve Smith, and a healthy dash of Joe Root involved. Quite the occasion in front of a packed crowd. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam and Rachel's Wedding, Day 1: You asked, so you shall receive. Adam decided to get married in the middle of an Ashes series, so his wedding gets the regular TFW Daily treatment, from the rooftop drinks reception after the ceremony in central London. Thanks to previous TFW guest hosts Daniel Norcross, Bharat Sundaresan, Isabelle Westbury, Ben Jones and Henry Moeran. And yes, Geoff did his shopping at Westfield. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Season 14, Episode 21: It’s all we talk about. Everyone who watches cricket will go on about the pitch - too flat, too fast, too dry, too green - and almost none of us knows anything about them How are they made? What do the adjectives mean? What is the process? In a special request episode for Enthusiast level Nerd Pledger Simon Wallace, we find out, with Lord’s head groundsman, or curator if you will, Karl McDermott. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Title track by Urthboy Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 5: We're never got to type that before! It ended quickly on the fifth morning, but a memorable result with a very memorable Ash Gardner performance. A double ton plus two ten-wicket matches? Stop it. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 4: Ok, the rollercoaster has started again. This match twisted and turned on Day 4 in ways that we would not have anticipated on the previous three. A glorious session from England, then a terrible one, a remarkable solo performance from Sophie Ecclestone, and a day of interesting work from Alyssa Healy. It's all to play for one Day 5. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 3: A historic day: no England woman had ever made a double century before, in any format, and now that has changed forever. Tammy Beaumont, takes a bow. There was plenty of toil for the Australians, then some impressive bowling at the back end. Three days done, and this match could go anywhere from here. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women's Ashes Test, Trent Bridge, Day 2: Annabel Sutherland achieved something significant on the second day, and helped her team a long way in the process. But England have responded in barnstorming style as the runs continue to flow. Support the show with a Nerd Pledge at patreon.com/thefinalword Find previous episodes at finalwordcricket.com Visit westfield.com/united-kingdom/London to see everywhere you can eat, shop and play in Europe’s largest shopping centre. Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City – More Extra, Less Ordinary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices